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Equivocal focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) examinations confound decision-making for trauma surgeons. We sought to determine whether the equivocal FAST (defined as any nonconcordant result) has a deleterious effect on trauma outcomes. A 2-year review (2014-2015) of all trauma activations at our Level I trauma center was performed. Patients were matched at baseline and FAST results were compared. Outcomes included resuscitation time (h), ventilation days (d), hospital length of stay (HLOS-d), ICU length-of-stay, and survival (%). In addition, skill level of the sonographer was stratified by novice (postgraduate year (PGY) years 1-3) or expert skill levels (PGY-4/fellow or attending). A total of 1,027 patients were included. Compared with concordant FAST examinations, equivocal FASTs were associated with increased HLOS (14.1 vs 10.6, P = 0.05), higher mortality (9.8 vs 3.7%, P = 0.02), decreased positive predictive value in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) (55 vs 79%, P = 0.02) and left upper quadrant (LUQ) (50 vs 83%, P < 0.01) and significantly decreased specificity in the thoracic (83 vs 98%), RUQ (80 vs 98%), LUQ (86 vs 99%), and pelvic (88 vs 98%) windows (P < 0.01 for all). A trend of greater positive predictive value in the thoracic window (100 vs 81%, P = 0.09) among PGY-4/fellow and attending providers compared with PGY levels 1-3 was observed. Equivocal FASTs portend worse outcomes than concordant FASTs because of high false-negative rates, specifically in the thoracic region and the upper quadrants. Lower thresholds for intervention are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic, non-iatrogenic esophageal injuries, despite their rarity, are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The optimal management of these esophageal perforations remains largely debated. To date, only a few small case series are available with contrasting results. The purpose of this study was to examine a large contemporary experience with traumatic esophageal injury management and to analyze risk factors associated with mortality. Methods: This National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) database study included patients with non-iatrogenic esophageal injuries. Variables abstracted were demographics, comorbidities, mechanism of injury, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), esophageal Organ Injury Scale (OIS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), level of injury, vital signs, and treatment. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent predictors for mortality and overall complications. Results: A total of 944 patients with non-iatrogenic esophageal injury were included in the final analysis. The cervical segment of the esophagus was injured in 331 (35%) patients. The unadjusted 24-h mortality (8.2 vs. 14%, p = 0. 008), 30-day mortality (4.2 vs. 9.3%, p = 0.005), and overall mortality (7.9 vs. 13.5%, p = 0.009) were significantly lower in the group of patients with a cervical injury. The overall complication rate was also lower in the cervical group (19.8 vs. 27.1%, p = 0.024). Multilogistic regression analysis identified age >50, thoracic injury, high-grade esophageal injury (OIS IV-V), hypotension on admission, and GCS <9 as independent risk factors associated with increased mortality. Treatment within the first 24 h was found to be protective (OR 0.284; 95% CI, 0.148--0.546; p < 0.001). Injury to the thoracic esophagus was also an independent risk factor for overall complications (OR 1.637; 95% CI, 1.06--2.53; p = 0.026). Conclusions: Despite improvements in surgical technique and critical care support, the overall mortality for traumatic esophageal injury remains high. The presence of a thoracic esophageal injury and extensive esophageal damage are the major independent risk factors for mortality. Early surgical treatment, within the first 24 h of admission, is associated with improved survival. Trial registration: iStar, HS-16-00883 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focused assessment with Sonography for trauma (FAST) examination is essential to trauma triage. We sought to determine whether FASTs completed early in sequencing portend worse outcomes. A two-year review (2014-2015) of all trauma activations at our Level I trauma center was performed. Patients were matched at baseline and FAST times were compared. Outcomes included resuscitation time (RESUS-h), ventilation days (d), hospital length of stay (HLOS-d), ICU length of stay (LOS-d), survival (%), nosocomial infection rate (%), and venous thromboembolism complication rate (%). ED interventions included transfusions, crystalloid, antibiotics, central line placement, intubation, thoracostomy, thoracotomy, pelvic X-ray, and binder. One thousand, three hundred and twelve patients were included for analysis (mean age = 38 ± 19 years, mean Injury Severity Score = 12 ± 11, 21% penetrating). Compared with FASTs completed after the primary survey, early FASTs led to significantly more ventilation days (P < 0.01), longer ICU length of stay (P < 0.01), and a greater incidence of nosocomial infections (P = 0.03). In the ED, early FASTs led to significantly more intubations (P < 0.01) and transfusions (P < 0.01) compared with late FASTs. FASTs completed before primary survey portend worse outcomes, with more ED interventions and equivocal results. FAST as a true adjunct to primary survey is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angioembolization versus open control of traumatic pelvic hemorrhage is debated. We sought to compare outcomes between angioembolization and open internal iliac artery occlusion. A 14-year retrospective review (2004-2017) was performed at our academic Level I trauma center. All pelvic hemorrhage patients who underwent internal iliac artery angioembolization or silastic loop ligation via laparotomy were compared for outcomes. Patient demographics included vital signs, mechanism, and injury severity score (ISS). Outcomes included mortality (%), operating room visits, reoperation for hemorrhage (%), transfusion burden (units), and infection (%). A total of 163 trauma patients matched for age, ISS, mechanism, and cavitary involvement were included for analysis. Compared with silastic loop ligation (n = 51, mean ISS = 32 ± 14), patients who underwent angioembolization (n = 112, mean ISS = 30 ± 8.9) demonstrated decreased mortality (23% vs 57%, P < 0.01), made fewer operating room trips (mean = 2.2 vs 3.6 trips, P < 0.01), made fewer trips for pelvic (2.8 vs 11%, P = 0.05) and nonpelvic-related bleeding (3.6 vs 22%, P < 0.01), used fewer blood products [packed red blood cells, fresh-frozen plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate] (P < 0.01 for all), and indicated a trend toward fewer infections (5.7% vs 14%, P = 0.07). Internal iliac artery angioembolization demonstrates lower mortality, lower reoperation rates, decreased transfusion burden, and a trend toward fewer infections compared with silastic loop ligation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Severe muscle mass depletion, sarcopenia, has been shown to be associated with poor operative outcomes. However, its impact on emergency abdominal operations remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between low muscle mass (LMM) and outcomes after emergency operations for acute diverticulitis. Patients and methods Patients ≥18 y requiring an emergency operation for acute diverticulitis between January 2007 and September 2014 were included. On preoperative computed tomography, the cross-sectional area (CSA) and transverse diameter (TVD) of the right and left psoas muscle were measured at the level of the third lumbar vertebral body. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine appropriate CSA and TVD cutoff values defining low skeletal muscle mass. Clinical outcomes of patients with low muscle mass (LMM group) were compared with the non-LMM group. Results A total of 89 patients met our inclusion criteria. Median CSA and TVD were 794 mm 2 and 24 mm, respectively. There was a strong correlation between the CSA and TVD (R 2 = 0.84). In univariable analysis, significantly higher rates of postoperative major complications (63% versus 37%, P = 0.027) and surgical site infection (47% versus 19%, P = 0.008) were identified in the LMM group. After adjusting for clinically important covariates in a logistic regression model, patients with LMM were significantly associated with higher odds of major complications and surgical site infection. Conclusions Preoperative assessment of the psoas muscle CSA and TVD on computed tomography can be a practical method for identifying patients at risk for postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background After surgical debridement, the use of fecal diversion systems (such as an endo-rectal tube or surgical colostomy) in Fournier's Gangrene (FG) to assist with wound healing remains controversial. Methods A 6-y retrospective review of a tertiary medical center emergency surgery database was conducted. Variables abstracted from the database include patient demographics, laboratory and physiological profiles, hospital length-of-stay, intensive care unit length-of-stay, operative data, time to healing, morbidity, and mortality. Results Thirty-five patients were treated. Seventy-seven percent ( n = 27) required some form of fecal diversion (21 patients using an endo-rectal tube and six patients undergoing construction of a surgical colostomy). One patient had a pre-existing colostomy before the development of FG. The remaining seven patients underwent conservative wound care with multiple daily dressing changes (no diversion system). Twenty-eight of the 35 patients (80.0%) had long-term follow-up with 100% having completely healed surgical wounds at the final clinic visit. Average time to complete wound healing was 4.8 ± 1.0 mo (range, 1.0-31.0). Of the six patients who underwent colostomy formation, two had their colostomies reversed, two were unacceptable surgical risk and did not undergo reversal (due to uncontrolled diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and two were lost to follow-up. Of the two patients who had their colostomies reversed both had complications from their reversal (leak and urinary retention). Conclusions Surgical colostomy may not be mandatory (and might be associated with a high additional morbidity) in FG. With appropriate patient selection, it may be possible to avoid colostomy formation using a less-invasive diversion technology without compromising patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraosseous (IO) needle placement is an alternative for patients with difficult venous access. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine indications and outcomes associated with IO use at a Level 1 trauma center (January 2008-May 2015). Data points included demographics, time to insertion, intravenous (IV) access points, indications, infusions, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, and mortality. Of 68 patients with IO insertion analyzed (63.2% blunt trauma, 29.4% penetrating trauma, and 7.4% medical), 56 per cent were hypotensive on arrival and 38.2 per cent asystolic. The most common indications for IO infusion were difficult IV access (69%) and rapid sequence intubation (20.6%). The median time to IO access was three minutes. IV access was gained after IO in 72.1 per cent of patients. Through IO access, 30.9 per cent patients received crystalloid, 29.4 per cent received Advanced Care Life Support (ACLS) medications, 25 per cent rapid sequence intubation medications, 20.6 per cent blood products, and 2.9 per cent seizure medications. Overall, 80.9 per cent were intubated in the Emergency Department (ED), 26.5 per cent had ED thoracotomy, and 20.6 per cent had a laparotomy. Median crystalloid infused through IO was 180 cc in pediatric patients and 1 L in adults, respectively. Extravasation, the most common complication, was experienced by 7.4 per cent of patients. Inhospital mortality was 72.9 per cent. IO access should be considered when there is a need for rapid intervention requiring vascular access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]